Manchester City Outcast, Joe Hart Lined Up For Torino Debut This Weekend

Last updated: 2016/09/09 at 8:53 AM

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VIA ARCIVESCOVADO, TURIN, ITALY - 2016/08/30: Joe Hart, goalkeeper of Manchester City and England national team, moved to Torino FC on loan. In the picture: Joe Hart with his new jersey. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

England’s Joe Hart will face a baptism of fire on Sunday when he makes his Serie A debut in front of Italy’s most fearsome fans.

Hart, deemed surplus to requirements by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, completed his move to unfashionable Torino on a season-long loan deal last week.

Amid reports Torino could be given the chance to snap the 28-year-old ‘keeper up on a permanent basis, Hart was put through his paces during a maiden training session with the “Granata” on Thursday.

Yet hopes of a first Serie A win for the England shot-stopper have been dealt a signficant blow.

After hitting a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Bologna, striker Andrea Belotti is sidelined for three weeks after suffering a thigh injury with Italy on what was his maiden call-up.

And Torino suffered another blow when Venezuelan striker Josef Martinez returned from a 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw against Argentina with a right thigh injury.